By Danielle Nicholson. Last updated 3rd May 2023. If you’ve suffered an electric shock at work and suspect it was because of your employer’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation via a personal injury claim.
In this guide, we look at the duty of care owed by employers that’s set out under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. We look at electric shock at work compensation cases, No Win No Fee agreements and the criteria for making a claim too.
If you’d like to make a compensation claim for an injury, we can help. Our panel of solicitors are specialists in accident at work claims and they can support you with your legal action.
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Electric Shock At Work Claims Guide
Select A Section
- The Criteria For Claiming For An Electric Shock At Work
- What Damage Can An Electric Shock Do?
- Causes Of An Electric Shock At Work
- What Evidence Will I Need To Prove An Injury At Work?
- Electric Shock At Work Compensation Cases And Payouts
- Start A No Win No Fee Claim For An Electric Shock At Work
The Criteria For Claiming For An Electric Shock At Work
As we have stated, all employers owe their employees a duty of care per health and safety legislation to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure employee safety while at work. As well as the legislation mentioned previously, below you will also find relevant laws that must be abided by:
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 states that employers are responsible for having safe electrical systems that prevent injury. And, The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) require employers to ensure that any equipment they provide to workers meets these specifications:
- Suitable for intended use
- Is maintained regularly, to a safe standard
- Only persons with the correct training can use it
Failure to comply with these regulations can cause avoidable workplace injuries. Let’s take a look at the criteria for making a claim after an electric shock at work.
Can You Claim Electric Shock Injury Compensation?
To make a claim for an injury caused by electrocution, you will need to prove the following:
- Firstly, you will need to prove that you worked for the defendant. Therefore they owed you a duty of care.
- Secondly, you will need to prove that your employer acted negligently and breached their duty of care towards you.
- Finally, you will need evidence to show that the negligence caused an electric shock accident at work which injured you.
Please call Advice.co.uk’s claims helpline. And if you are eligible to claim, we will provide you with a No Win No Fee solicitor to handle your case.
How Long Do I Have To Make An Electric Shock At Work Claim?
In addition to proving employer negligence was responsible for your injuries, you must start your electric shock at work claim within the three year limitation period. Generally, this is three years from the date of your workplace accident.
However, for certain injured parties, there are exceptions to the time limit. These include claims made for:
- Those who lack the mental capacity to start their own claim. A litigation friend could be appointed to claim on behalf of the injured party during this time. However, if the injured party regains this capacity, they will have three years from that date to start a claim.
- Those under the age of 18. The time limit is paused until they turn 18. From the date of their 18th birthday, they will have three years to start a claim if a litigation friend did not act on their behalf. During this period, a litigation friend can start a claim at any time.
If you suffered an injury at work, our advisors could help. You can get in touch for free advice about your accident at work using the details at the top of the page.
What Damage Can An Electric Shock Do?
An electric shock injury happens when an electrical current runs through a person’s body. The voltage of the current, the time the electric shock lasts, and the person’s overall health affect the extent of their injuries.
An electric shock can cause the following injuries:
- Cardiac arrest
- Internal and external burn injuries
- Organ damage or organ failure
- Damage or destruction of soft tissues
- A worker can fall from a height if they are electrocuted working off the ground (for example, by a powerline)
Serious accidents causing severe internal burns, organ failure or cardiac arrest can lead to fatal injuries.
Causes Of An Electric Shock At Work
Let’s take a look at some of the causes of an electric shock at work.
If a workplace does not take the proper electrical safety precautions, an electrical shock accident can happen quite easily.
The following hazards can cause an electrical injury at work:
- Workers carry out tasks near live power lines and come into contact with them.
- A faulty electrical appliance electrocutes a worker.
- Or an electrical appliance has a frayed cord, which can cause an electric shock.
- A worker comes into contact with an overloaded power outlet.
What Evidence Will I Need To Prove An Injury At Work?
If you wish to claim compensation for an electrical injury in the workplace, you will need adequate evidence to support your claim. To sue your employer, you or your legal representative will need to provide evidence to prove the following:
- Firstly, evidence that the accident took place. For example, a witness may make a statement to support you, or you can provide CCTV footage of the accident.
- Secondly, evidence that your employer or another party was responsible for the accident. So, you may present photographs of the hazard that caused your injuries.
- You will also need to prove that your injuries took place. Evidence can include your medical records, the outcome of your medical assessment and photographs of your injuries.
To make a workplace injury claim, you must also start your claim within the time limit allowed. Under the Limitation Act 1980, the limitation period is normally three years.
Electric Shock At Work Compensation Cases And Payouts
Let’s take a look at some electric shock at work compensation cases and payouts.
You can receive up to two heads of claim if your electric shock at work compensation claim succeeds. The first is general damages, which will compensate you for the physical and mental injuries your accident caused. The payment will also reflect your injuries’ negative impact on your quality of life.
You can use the compensation table below, instead of a personal injury claims calculator, to estimate how much general damages you could receive. The compensation brackets are based on the latest edition of the Judicial College guidelines (JCG), which solicitors use to value general damage payments.
| Injuries | About The Injury | Compensation Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate Brain Damage - C (i) | The brain damage leaves the person with a risk of epilepsy, the inability to work and a moderate to severe degree of intellectual deficit. | £150,110 to £219,070 |
| Moderate Brain Damage - C (ii) | There has been moderate to modest intellectual deficit as well as the reduced ability to work. | £90,720 to £150,110 |
| Chest Injury A | Serious heart damage where there is significant scarring as well as pain and suffering. | £100,670 to £150,110 |
| Chest Injury B | Traumatic chest or heart injuries which leave the person with permanent damage. This reduces the person's life expectancy. | £65,740 to £100,670 |
| Burns Leading To Scarring | Instances where burns covers more than 40% of the body may be awarded a higher settlement. | Could Exceed £104,830 |
| Very Severe Facial Scarring A | The claimant is relatively young and has a severe psychological reaction as well as severe disfigurement. | £29,780 to £97,330 |
| Less Severe Facial Scarring B | There has been a substantial cosmetic as well as psychological effect. | £17,960 to £48,420 |
| Significant Facial Scarring C | The worst cosmetic effects have been reduced by plastic surgery. There has not been a great psychological reaction. | £9,110 to £30,090 |
| Less Significant Facial Scarring D | Either several small scars or one large scar. These do not significantly affect the person's appearance. | £3,950 to £13,740 |
Your compensation payment may differ if your claim succeeds, as these are merely guidance amounts. Please get in touch with our team for a personalised quote.
Special Damages
Some claimants also receive special damages as part of their compensation package. A special damage payout reimburses the claimant for any costs or financial losses associated with their injuries. So, the claimant could receive the following payments:
- Medical costs
- Travel expenses
- Hospital parking costs
- Specialist care expenses
- Loss of earnings reimbursement
- Mobility equipment expenses
- Home or car adaptation costs
Start A No Win No Fee Claim For An Electric Shock At Work
Many claimants enter into a No Win No Fee agreement, such as a Conditional Fee Agreement, when they hire a personal injury solicitor. A No Win No Fee agreement means not having to pay your solicitor upfront.
Instead, the claimant will pay a success fee if they win their compensation claim. And if the claim does not succeed, there is no success fee to pay.
To enquire about claiming compensation for an electric shock at work, please do get in contact with Advice.co.uk. If you have a valid reason to claim, an experienced lawyer from our panel can start working on your case.
Contact our team today:
- Dial 0161 696 9685 to speak to a claims advisor
- Contact us using our online form
- Or you can use our Advice widget to speak to a claims specialist online
Claims For Related Workplace Injuries
If an accident in the workplace injured you, you may be eligible to claim compensation. You are welcome to read these guides to learn more.
- I Was Attacked As A Lone Worker; How Do I Make A Claim?
- £95,000 Compensation Payout For An Injury Caused By Fire
- How To Claim Compensation For A Psychological Injury Guide
- Safety advice for people who work near electricity from the HSE
- Electrical injuries – an HSE guide
- To see our FAQs on accident at work claims, head here. You can find lots of answers to commonly asked questions, such as on the personal injury claim time limit.
- An NHS guide to first aid, including how to help a person who has suffered an electric shock
If you want to know about claiming compensation for an electric shock at work, please feel free to contact our team.